Does sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous head and neck melanoma alter disease outcome?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the head and neck region, value, reliability, and safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) have not yet been determined conclusively. The aim of study was to assess impact of SLNB on disease outcome in cutaneous head and neck melanoma.

METHODS: Thirty-six patients with a clinically node-negative head and neck melanoma, > or =1.0 mm Breslow thickness, participated in a prospective study from 1995 to 2005. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) tumor-positive patients underwent completion lymphadenectomy. SLN tumor-negative patients underwent clinical monitoring. Median follow-up was 54 (range 10-114) months. Recurrence-free and overall survival curves were constructed by Kaplan-Meier.

RESULTS: SLNs could be identified in 33 patients (92%). In 7 patients (21%) the SLN was tumor-positive. In 1 patient (13%) the SLNB was false-negative. In 17 patients (47%) SLNs could be identified in the parotid region (success rate parotid region 100%). This study showed no significant difference in recurrence-free and overall survival between patients with tumor-positive and tumor-negative SLN.

CONCLUSIONS: The safety and accuracy of SLNB in the neck and parotid nodal basins were similar to those in non-head and neck sites. However, the technique is technically demanding in this region. In this small series SLNB did not alter disease outcome.